PRESS RELEASE – For immediate release

GPC Series 2016 kicks off in

Singapore, 17 March 2016 – Singapore kick-starts the Global Pound Conference (GPC) series, on 17 and 18 March 2016 at the Supreme Court of Singapore, with a myriad of private and public sector individuals and organisations in attendance, to have their say in the future of dispute resolution. The keynote address was delivered by The Honourable the Chief Justice today, 17 March. Senior Minister of State for Law and Finance Ms , S.C. will deliver the closing address tomorrow, 18 March.

The GPC series is a series of conferences commencing in Singapore and ending in London in 2017, visiting a total of 38 locations in 29 countries. It aims to bring together all the stakeholders of the dispute resolution process to discuss how positive steps can be taken so that dispute resolution could be used to effectively resolve the commercial and civil disputes of the modern world. Singapore was selected to host the inaugural Conference as the country is recognised as a leading choice for alternative dispute resolution in Asia, providing a wide range of dispute resolution services including litigation, arbitration, and mediation.

The Singapore Conference (GPC Singapore 2016) is organised by The , Ministry of Law, , Singapore Corporate Counsel Association, Singapore International Arbitration Centre, Singapore International Mediation Centre, Singapore International Mediation Institute, Singapore Mediation Centre and the State Courts of Singapore. GPC Singapore 2016 features a stellar line-up of speakers comprising local and international experts, practitioners and policymakers. They will speak on topics spanning the demand, supply and future of Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR).

The programme highlights at GPC Singapore 2016 include:

 Interactive voting and discussion sessions where the participants can express their views on a range of vital issues affecting how disputes are resolved. The voting results of each session will be projected instantly, to give the different stakeholder groups a larger worldview of the needs of dispute resolution

users and how these needs are currently being met. Each session will also provide valuable insight on

how access to justice can be further improved through dispute resolution (more details on the voting and discussion sessions are available in Annex A).  Concurrent sessions which will explore the latest online dispute resolution systems for businesses and consumers, and which will examine the main biological processes and mechanisms that drive behaviour during the dispute resolution process (more details on the concurrent sessions are available in Annex A).

It is also during this conference that the Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy (SIDRA) is launched by the Chief Justice. SIDRA will be the first regional institution dedicated to thought leadership, and training and educational excellence in negotiation and dispute resolution. The vision is for SIDRA to be the go-to institution, in the region and beyond, for thought leadership, research and training in practical and progressive dispute resolution knowledge and skills (See Annex B for more information on SIDRA).

About Global Pound Conference

In April 1976, an event now known as the Pound Conference ignited the modern ADR movement in the USA. Forty years later, conceptualised and led by the International Mediation Institute (IMI), all stakeholders in the dispute prevention and resolution fields around the world are now being invited to participate in a series of unique thought leadership events around the globe under the auspices of the GPC Series. The GPC Series 2016-2017 has the commendable goal to shape the future of dispute resolution and access to justice in the 21st century at domestic, regional and international levels.

For more information, please visit http://singapore2016.globalpoundconference.org/ or contact the professional conference organisers:

Ms May LEE Ms Gin SUM Kenes MP Asia Pte Ltd Kenes MP Asia Pte Ltd Tel: +65 6389 6615 Tel: +65 6389 6633 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Annex A

TIME PROGRAMME 17 MARCH 2016, THURSDAY 9:00am GPC Singapore Opening Opening Performance Welcome by , Presiding Judge, State Courts of Singapore (Provider) Opening Remarks by Michael McIlwrath, Chair of GPC Series (User) Keynote Address by The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, President, Singapore Academy of Law (Provider) 10:00am Morning Break 10:30am GPC Core Questions – Interactive Voting & Discussion Session 1 Access to Justice & Dispute Resolution Systems: What do parties want, need and expect? This session explores the needs of commercial and civil disputants, the types of outcomes sought, the role of lawyers and different types of providers, and an understanding of what distinguishes inexperienced parties from experienced and sophisticated disputants. It will cover which dispute resolution mechanisms are considered for resolving on-going disputes. Dispute resolution providers can also gain insights to the subtle differences in considerations and influences between different types of clients and types of disputes.

Moderator:

 Alastair Henderson, Managing Partner, Southeast Asia and Head of International Arbitration Practice, Southeast Asia , Herbert Smith Freehills LLP (Advisor)

Speakers include:  Sok-Theng Cheng, Executive Director/SE Asia Legal Counsel, Morgan Stanley (User)  Gerard Ee, President, Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (User)  Josephine Hadikusumo, Regional Legal Counsel (Asia), Texas Instruments (User)  Michael McIlwrath, Global Chief Litigation Counsel (Litigation), GE Oil & Gas and Chair, Global Pound Conference Series (User)  Sue Lynn Neoh, VP, Singapore Corporate Counsel Association, Legal Director, Xilinx Asia Pacific (User) 12:00pm GPC Core Questions – Interactive Voting & Discussion Session 2 How is the market currently addressing parties' wants, needs and expectations?

TIME PROGRAMME On the supply side, providers and advisors will provide access to key information that will help shape the choice of dispute resolution processes. This session builds on the discussion from Session 1, and explores what outcomes providers tend to prioritise, what tends to influence outcomes, the benefits of participating in non-adjudicative processes, what makes a process efficient, and who is responsible for ensuring the parties are aware of their procedural choices. This session also explores how services provided on the ‘supply’ side currently address the needs of disputants, and whether new and innovative approaches are required to complement the market’s offerings today to meet or exceed parties’ expectations.

Moderator:  Deborah Masucci, Chairperson, International Mediation Institute (User)

Speakers include:  Daniel Ee, Vice - Chairman, Singapore Institute of Directors (User)  Vincent Hoong, Registrar, Supreme Court of Singapore (Provider)  Joan Janssen, 2 Director-General, Ministry of Law  George Lim S.C., Co-Chair, Singapore International Mediation Centre (Provider)  Lim Seok Hui, CEO, Singapore International Arbitration Centre and Singapore International Mediation Centre (Provider)  Gregory Vijayendran, Partner, Commercial Litigation, Rajah & Tann Asia (Advisor) 1:30pm Lunch 2:30pm Concurrent Session A The Role of the Courts in Providing and Facilitating the Use of ADR The Courts were once associated primarily with adversarial trial processes. The judiciary was perceived as a forum for public vindication and adjudication of disputes. That concept of the judiciary has slowly changed as the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) movement grew steadily. For more than two decades, ADR has been instrumental to the delivery of justice in the Singapore courts. Each court – the Supreme Court, Family Justice Courts and State Courts – has adopted a unique approach to ADR that has been customised to the type of dispute. Come join an interactive discussion concerning the latest trends in each court’s facilitation of the use of ADR, and learn how ADR can be effectively harnessed to resolve different types of disputes.

Moderator:  Tan Boon Heng, District Judge and Executive Director, Singapore Judicial College

Speakers:

TIME PROGRAMME  Chia Wee Kiat, Senior District Judge and Registrar, Family Justice Courts of Singapore  Jennifer Marie, Deputy Presiding Judge and Registrar, State Courts of Singapore  Teh Hwee Hwee, Deputy Registrar, Supreme Court of Singapore

Concurrent Session B Online Dispute Resolution and the Future of Justice Technology is not only changing society, it is changing the way we resolve disputes. Mediation and arbitration are rapidly moving online. Consumers, businesses, and legal service providers increasingly expect to be able to resolve any issues that arise 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, right from their laptops and tablets. Also, transactions now routinely cross the globe, and disputants are unwilling to sort out complex issues of jurisdiction every time a problem crops up. Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) is the application of information and communications technology to the practice of dispute resolution. In this session we'll talk about the latest and greatest in ODR and see demos of cutting edge systems, as well as exploring how ODR can move us closer to a world where businesses and consumers can get access to fast and fair resolutions 100% of the time, from anywhere in the world.

Speakers:  Jeffrey Chan S.C., Deputy Solicitor-General, Attorney-General's Chambers  Ian Macduff, Associate Professor of Law (Practice), Singapore Management University (SMU), Director, Dispute Resolution Initiative  Colin Rule (via online), Chairman and COO, Modria.com 3:45pm Afternoon Break 4:00pm Concurrent Session C Applying Neurobiology in Dispute Resolution Processes This session will examine the main biological processes and mechanisms that drive the behaviour of disputants, counsel, experts and neutrals during dispute resolution processes. It will present the TRI-OS system of conflict analysis developed by the speakers and neuroscientists at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Affective Sciences (CISA) at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, and it will provide practical insights on process design, case preparation and the impact of procedural choices on social, emotional and cognitive behaviour for a wide range of dispute resolution processes. Participants will learn to develop their case analysis skills and optimize negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and litigation processes based on based on recent findings in social sciences and neurosciences. This session is aimed at all stakeholders involved in negotiation, dispute prevention and dispute resolution proceedings.

TIME PROGRAMME Speakers:  Francois Bogacz, Co-Founder and CEO, Neuroawareness Consulting Services Inc (USA)  Jeremy Lack, Co-Founder, Neuroawareness Consulting Services Inc (CH) and GPC Series Coordinator

Concurrent Session D Institutional Measures to Save Time and Costs for Users in International Arbitration The Panel will discuss various institutional measures aimed at achieving timely and cost-efficient resolution of disputes involving international businesses, such as the Emergency Arbitrator, Expedited Procedure and Arb-Med-Arb procedures under the SIAC Rules; and other techniques including the use of technology, expert witnesses and witness conferencing to achieve efficiency.

Speakers:

 David Bateson, Arbitrator, 39 Essex Chambers  Christopher Chuah, Partner, WongPartnership  Edward van Geuns, Partner, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek  Ben Giaretta, Partner, Ashurst LLP  Kevin Nash, Deputy Registrar, Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)  Paul Sandosham, Partner, Asia

6:30pm Welcome Dinner (CHIJMES) 30 Victoria Street, Singapore 187996 (Drivers, enter via Victoria Street)

18 MARCH 2016, FRIDAY 9:00am GPC Core Questions – Interactive Voting & Discussion Session 3 How can dispute resolution be improved? (Overcoming obstacles and challenges) What are the main obstacles faced by parties when seeking to resolve disputes? What processes and tools should be prioritised to improve dispute resolution and access to justice? Which stakeholders are likely to be most resistant to change and which ones are likely to be most influential? This session will focus on the primary obstacles and challenges to dispute resolution and the solutions available to overcome them. New solutions using technology and hybrid dispute resolution systems will also be discussed.

Moderator:  Andre Yeap S.C., Senior Partner, Dispute Resolution and Head, International Arbitration, Rajah & Tann Asia (Advisor)

Speakers include:  Eunice Chua, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and Assistant Professor of Law, Singapore Management University (SMU) (Educator)  Loong Seng Onn, Executive Director, Singapore Mediation Centre (Provider)  Jannet Regalado, General Counsel, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation (User)  Thio Shen Yi S.C., President, Law Society of Singapore (Advisor)  Irena Vanenkova, Executive Director, International Mediation Institute 10:30am Morning Break 10:45am GPC Core Questions – Interactive Voting & Discussion Session 4: Promoting better access to justice: What action items should be considered and by whom? The last session includes thought-provoking questions about the responsibilities of each stakeholder group in shaping the future of dispute resolution. What are effective ways of providing parties with more choice? What is likely to have most impact? What innovations and trends should be taken into consideration? With a better understanding of the roles each stakeholder group has to play, stakeholders will be empowered to improve current and future dispute resolution processes and identify the changes to be focused on.

Moderator:  Justice , Chair, Singapore Mediation Centre (Provider)

Speakers include:  Dr Eman Mansour, Director, Investors’ Dispute Settlement Centre for General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (Provider)

 Deborah Masucci, Chair, International Mediation Institute (User)  Gitta Satryani, Senior Associate, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP (Advisor)  Judicial Commissioner See Kee Oon, Presiding Judge, State Courts of Singapore (Provider)  Tan Siong Thye S.C., Deputy Attorney-General, Attorney-General’s Chambers (Advisor) 12:15pm Lunch 2:00pm Closing Plenary Analysis and Discussion of Data Generated During the 4 Interactive GPC Core Question Sessions To close the Singapore event, all stakeholders’ views on dispute resolution will be analysed at the end of the conference and discussed by a group of experts coming from all stakeholder groups. It is intended that the conclusions generated during this Singapore launch event will start a chain of discussions about practical measures that can be taken to implement real changes both in daily practices, and in long term policies, to improve access to justice for all disputants in the 21st century and spot new trends.

Interviewer:  Michael Leathes, Co-Founder, International Mediation Institute (User)

Speakers include:  Professor Nadja Alexander, Principal, Conflict Coaching International (Provider & Educator)  Josephine Hadikusumo, Regional Legal Counsel (Asia), Texas Instruments (User)  S.C., Senior Counsel and Arbitrator (Advisor)  Joanna Kalowski, Director, Joanna Kalowski and Associates (Provider)  Associate Professor Joel Lee, Chairperson, Singapore International Mediation Institute (Educator)  Michael McIlwrath, Global Chief Litigation Counsel (Litigation), GE Oil & Gas and Chair, Global Pound Conference Series (User)  Alexander Oddy, Partner and Head of ADR, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP (Advisor)  Joseph Tirado, Lawyer & ADR Neutral (Advisor & Provider) 3:30pm GPC Singapore Closing Closing Address by Indranee Rajah S.C., Senior Minister of State for Law and Finance (Government) 4:00pm Optional Technical Tours of Maxwell Chambers, Singapore International Arbitration Centre, Singapore International Mediation Centre and State Courts

Annex B

Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy (SIDRA)

SIDRA is the first regional institution dedicated to thought leadership, and training and educational excellence in negotiation and dispute resolution. The vision is for SIDRA to be the go-to institution, in the region and beyond, for thought leadership, research and training in practical and progressive dispute resolution knowledge and skills.

SIDRA has been set up to complement Singapore’s suite of dispute resolution service providers such as the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, Singapore International Mediation Centre, Singapore Mediation Centre and the Singapore International Commercial Court. SIDRA, together with the Singapore International Mediation Institute and aforesaid institutions, will collectively strengthen the plans to develop and promote Singapore as a regional dispute resolution hub.

SIDRA was conceptualised to capitalise on Singapore’s track record as the Asian leader in dispute resolution training. Singapore, through the Singapore Mediation Centre, has conducted dispute resolution training in countries in the region and around the world (see Annex). It will draw on the competencies and expertise of Singapore's dispute resolution institutions and professionals to offer outstanding training and educational opportunities for domestic and regional/international participants.

One of SIDRA’s strategies is to establish partnerships with the world’s best ADR training institutions and trainers, thus providing access to an international faculty of professionals. These dispute resolution professionals will include experienced negotiation, mediation and other dispute resolution trainers, academics and practitioners. SIDRA also intends to offer courses in collaboration with tertiary institutions leading to certificates and postgraduate credit.

To distinguish SIDRA from other leading training institutions, where applicable, SIDRA will introduce an Asian perspective to dispute resolution. When collaborating with training institutions from the West, SIDRA will therefore develop theoretical and practice-oriented frameworks from two different cultural contexts.

Significantly, SIDRA will offer an international platform for exchanging and developing ideas on theory, practice and policy development. SIDRA will also bring a strong presence of contemporary Asian voices into global conversations on negotiation and dispute resolution.

SMC Overseas Training/Participants (1999 - Mar 2016)

No. Organization Year Type 1. Bar Council Malaysia 1999 - Mediation 2000 2. PHILJA – Philippine Court of Appeals 2000 - Mediation (2000, 2002) 2002 - Train the Trainers (2004) 2004 3. Ministry of Commerce, Cambodia and 2000 - Commercial Dispute Resolution Cambodian Centre for Conflict Resolution 4. European Peace University (EPU), Vienna & 2002 - Mediation Malta 5. Hong Kong Mediation Centre 2004 - Mediation 6. CMFI/CCCI, Cebu Philippines 2004 - Mediation 7. The Office of the Judiciary of Thailand 2006 - Train the Trainers (2006) 2008 - Mediation (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2009 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016) 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016 8. Ministry of Labour Industrial Relations & 2006 - Mediation (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, Employment (MLIRE), Fiji 2007 2012, 2013) 2008 - Accreditation (2010) 2009 2010 2012 2013 9. Guangzhou Beyondfuture Education 2008 - Mediation Consulting Service Co., Ltd - China 2009 Guangzhou Judges* 10. International Law Institute, African Centre for 2009 - Mediation Legal Excellence (ILI-ACLE) - Judges of the Federal High Court of Nigeria* 11. Cheung Kong Centre for Negotiation and 2010 - Mediation with Accreditation Dispute Resolution, Shantou 2012 12. Supreme Judiciary Council of the State of 2011 - Mediation Qatar 13. Chinese University of Hong Kong 2011 - Mediation 2012 2013

2014 14. Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) 2011 - Mediation Courts 15. Bahrain Centre for Dispute Resolution (BCDR- 2012 - Mediation AAA) 2013 16. Dubai Chambers of Commerce 2012 - Mediation 17. Ministry of Justice, Sri Lanka 2012 - Mediation 18. Consumer Council of Fiji 2013 - Mediation 19. Judiciary of Fiji 2013 - Mediation (2013, 2014) 2014 - Accreditation (2015) 2015 2016 20. Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution 2014 - Mediation (OADR), Philippines 21. Institut Latihan Kehakiman dan Perundangan 2014 - Mediation (ILKAP), Malaysia

22. Ministry of Employment, Productivity & 2014 - Mediation Industrial Relations (MEPIR), Fiji 23. Singapore Cooperation Programme, Initiative 2014 - Dispute Resolution for Asean Integration, Myanmar 24. Singapore Cooperation Programme, Initiative 2014 - Dispute Resolution for Asean Integration, Laos 25. Singapore Cooperation Programme, Initiative 2014 - Dispute Resolution for Asean Integration, Cambodia 26. Singapore Cooperation Programme, Initiative 2015 - Dispute Resolution for Asean Integration, Vietnam 27. Brunei Supreme Court and Syariah Court 2015 - Mediation (2015) 2016 - Accreditation (2016) 28. Wildlife Conservation Society Cambodia 2015 - Negotiation 29. Supreme Court of the Union Myanmar 2015 - Mediation 30. Thailand Arbitration Centre 2015 - Mediation 31. United Nations Development Programme 2016 - Mediation Jordan 32. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore* 2006 - Dispute Resolution Systems: Policies, 2007 Structures and Strategies 2008 2009 2013 2014 2015 * Workshop conducted in Singapore for overseas participants.